Assessment of Cooperatives in the Poultry Industry - 2013.pdf - Seda

Research Report: Addressing the Needs, Opportunities and Challenges of Cooperatives
and Collectively Owned Enterprises in the Poultry and Related Industries
practical advice on all aspects of financial and operational management, planning
and marketing. A long-term technical skills partnership with a service provider,
endorsed by SAPA, would ensure that cooperatives are getting relevant and up-todate
skills in the industry. The Developing Poultry Farmers Organisation may also be
willing to assist SEDA in attaining such partnerships.
o
Create a database of recognised service providers: While there are a myriad of
service providers that offer a range of training and support services in general, the
tender process currently used in selecting service providers does not guarantee that
experts in the poultry field are selected. This results in training not being customised
to the specific challenges presented in the poultry industry. It is, therefore,
recommended that a database of preferred service providers be established, based
on an appropriate screening and qualification procedure. The inclusion of a poultry
expert, such as SAPA or DPFO, in the evaluation and selection of service providers to
be included in the database, is also recommended. Through this process, the quality
and consistency of training received by cooperatives can be improved.
o
Additional types of training required: Cooperatives have in the past struggled with
attaining customers. Market access is discussed below, however, marketing training
and the necessity and methods of actively seeing out new clients need to be
emphasised in training. In addition to this, increased financial training will provide
greater understanding of the importance of long-term planning and investment and
would work toward cooperatives making the best use of their limited resources.
o
Mentorship: In order to ensure that cooperatives are able to make the best possible
use of the training and equipment provided to them, a mentorship programme is
essential. While this already exists in some of the SEDA interventions, this
recommendation specifically concerns the way in which this mentorship is provided,
as well as the type of mentors involved. Mentors should be committed to assisting
cooperatives, with one mentor being allocated to a cooperative throughout their
development path. The function of the mentor would be to guide cooperatives
through the graduated development approach discussed above and to assist with
challenges faced in the day-to-day operations of the cooperative.
The benefit of mentors guiding cooperatives through a development plan can be
further enhanced through the use of industry experts. As per the recommendation
above, if mentors are sourced based on a database created with the endorsement of
SAPA, it will ensure that current best practice is applied. It is also recommended that
these mentors involve persons with practical experience in business management.
Background to the industry as a whole and the challenges facing poultry farmers will
also enable mentors to assist cooperatives in forming partnerships. For example, this
may assist them in sourcing grain more cheaply.
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